Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Crusade #21 From Michelle Ward


Michelle Ward posts monthly challenges - or mini art projects - that she calls Crusades. All of these little mini projects are quite easy - and all are fun. Last month's 'Crusade' was paper casting. This month's 'Crusade' was all about making rubbings. I made this one using Shiva paint sticks on a batik fabric with some of the areas lightly inked in.

Sometimes I feel rather scattered in my pursuit of art- rather like a butterfly trying many flowers or a dragon fly flitting all about. That propensity used to bother me about myself until one day, as I was working on a quilt, I realized that all of these bits & pieces of what had seemed like 'scattery' energy had all coalesced in the piece. Plus, I think that working in different mediums now and then allows me to get a different perspective and an occasional (or more!) change of pace is a good thing for me.

Projects still in porcess include my Einstein Coat - which is really coming along now. The moss green color keep me going and I am having visions beading it when it is done.

I am also working on a large felted bag - using roving from the three fleece that I got from the County Fair last year. The fleece, and their resulting rovings, are a beautiful, creamy white, a deep, almost black-brown and a warm, soft mocha brown. These soft colors are forcing me to work in a WAY more neutral palette that I usually do - and I am challenging myself to use very minimal, more neutral colors as small additions to these three basic fleece colors. I am working in a pattern made up of circles of varying sizes. More on this soon - a preliminary post to follow.

Also still owrking a several small paintings - oh! how I am loving paint. Who knew?!

11 comments:

michelle ward said...

Wow Marie - so cool to click on the photo and see the enlarged detail. It really is fabric! Very lovely colors and pattern. I like that you observed your interest in different mediums is much like the quilts you assemble. No exploration is wasted as each thing we learn gives us a new 'eye', and widens our perspective. Thanks for sharing your piece with the team. It's the first time we've seen a rubbing on fabric. New eyes for us!

Karoda said...

I love how you explore other art forms and do so with such fluidity and sweet results...the baskets are wonderful!

Anonymous said...

Michelle! Your wax rubbing is beautiful and a art piece in itself. What did you rub it against?

I'm like that too, jumping around the flowers of art, craft and creativity. I think its coming together (at least part of it) sooner or later. :-)

Kathryn Costa said...

Your finished piece reminds me of the work of Paul Klee. So very intriguing. I can relate to feeling scattered when it comes to my art pursuits. I liken myself to a squirrel jumping from tree to tree where each tree has a different nut and I collect a little from each tree. It is neat to see how all of the nuts come together though. And your work is wonderful.

Anonymous said...

These are so elegant in their pattern, palette, composition and execution. They should be stretched and hung as is. Extrordinary!

Unknown said...

I skip around between different things too but I still get a lot finished and so do you! I think it is a good thing and it keeps you from getting stale when there is always something new to incorporate....Love the paint sticks and the fabric...They are fun arent they...by the way, i am sorry to hear about your kitty...It has been rough for you lately...hang in there, Melinda

Anonymous said...

Marie - I really love your work. I looked at the larger image and the detail is great! - Nicki

Maj said...

Your rubbings really are beautiful and I love the colours too!

Unknown said...

This really was a fun project wasn't it!

Have a great hair day! Becci

moi said...

fantastic. i love the colors you have used.

Sue McGettigan said...

How wonderful to see the rubbings on fabric - great idea!

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